Opinion

EDITORIAL THE recent arrest of a 43-year-old fisherman, known as "Bong," in Barangay Taggat Sur, Claveria, Cagayan, marks a significant win for the country's anti-drug efforts. Anti-drug operatives confiscated approximately P5.3 million worth of cocaine, a kilogram of the illicit substance packed with a "Coca Racing" label, during a buy-bust operation. This successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the local police's relentless pursuit of drug peddlers. The seizure of P5.3 million worth of cocaine is a substantial blow to the illegal drug trade, and the arrest of the suspect sends a strong message that authorities will not tolerate such activities. This incident is not an isolated case, as Cagayan has been a hotspot f...

BY RODOLFO JOHN ORTIZ TEOPE, PhD, EdD THESE days, wherever I go, people seem to be talking about Sarah Discaya. She has become so viral that her name slips into conversations in the most unexpected places. I remember this very clearly one morning when I accompanied my daughter, Juliana Rizalhea, for her medical examination as a requirement for her Taekwondo competition. It should have been a quiet, personal moment for families waiting in the hospital, but instead, the chatter was all about Discaya—her umbrella, her Rolls Royce, her lifestyle. Outside, the rain was steady. I carried with me a golf umbrella, a gift from General Thompson Lantion, its fabric marked with the logo of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. As I stood there, hearing the chatter around me, I couldn’t help but...

TRAGEDY IN THE DEPTHS EDITORIAL Tragedy in the tunnels: A call for stricter enforcement against illegal mining THE recent tragic incident in Sitio Balcony, Barangay Runruno in Quezon town, Nueva Vizcaya where three small-scale miners and a volunteer rescuer lost their lives, is a stark reminder of the dangers of unauthorized mining activities. The incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement of mining laws and regulations to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The fact that the miners who were trapped in the tunnel were not employees of FCF Minerals Corp., the company operating in the area, underscores the risks associated with illegal mining. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has confirmed that the area where the incident occurred is not part of...

Image Credit: Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the recent development on Senate Bill (SB) 941, also known as the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines Act. This legislation, which began as a proposed bill in the House and was then transmitted to the Senate, is now being discussed as a means for the Philippines to improve its approach to public health issues. SB 941, filed by Sen. Win Gatchalian, focuses on establishing a body of research in the country which will search as the foundation of the research and development of diagnostic kits, vaccines, and therapeutics as a response to the emergence of various virus strains and diseases. The Commission takes note of the similar bills filed by Senators Raffy Tulfo and Cynthia Villa...

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the decision of the Baguio Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5, which has convicted two former Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadets of murder, and another former cadet of hazing, in relation to the tragic death of 4th Class Cadet Darwin Dormitorio in September 2019. Judge Ligaya Itliong-Rivera of RTC Branch 5 in Baguio City found 3rd Class Shalimar Imperial Jr and Felix Lumbag Jr. guilty of murder, while former Cadet 3rd Class Julius Carlo Tadena was convicted for violating the anti-hazing law. All three have been sentenced to reclusion perpetua. The Commission welcomes this ruling as it demonstrates the State’s commitment to ensuring that justice is served and that the rule of law remains the cornerstone of achieving accountability ...

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) supports the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology's (BJMP) appeal for increased budget allocations for the food and medical allowances of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). For 2024, only P70 is allocated per PDL for daily meals, while the budget for medicine is capped at P15 per person. These amounts have remained unchanged since 2022, despite the ongoing economic challenges. The BJMP has proposed increasing these amounts to P100 and P30 per PDL, respectively. The CHR respectfully urges our legislators to consider BJMP's appeal. After all, the Commission believes we share the same goal: to ensure humane conditions and adequate resources for the reformation of our PDLs, as well as to treat them with dignity and respect. Articles 7 and 10 (P...

THE  Commission on Human Rights (CHR) supports the filing of Senate Bill No. 2694 by Senator Raffy Tulfo, aimed at increasing the pay of Filipino nurses. The proposed Act seeks to amend Republic Act No. 9173, or “The Philippine Nursing Act of 2002,” upgrading the minimum salary grade of nurses from SG 15 to SG 19. "We applaud Senator Tulfo's initiative, as it will undoubtedly boost the morale of our nurses. It's high time we prioritize our frontline service workers, particularly those in the health sector, who are among the essential pillars of our nation," stated CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc. Currently, nurses employed in government hospitals earn at least 36,000 pesos monthly, the lowest wage among Southeast Asian countries according to news reports. This situation drives ...

COMMISSIONER Beda Angeles Epres, Focal Commissioner for Older Persons of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), supports and acknowledges the proposed P500 monthly grocery discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs). “This initiative reflects the Commission’s collective efforts to improve the quality of life for our elderly and persons with disabilities. This also demonstrates our shared commitment to inclusivity and welfare for all,” Commissioner Epres said. According to news reports, House Speaker Martin Romualdez stated that he secured the commitment of relevant authorities to grant the aforementioned discount during a meeting with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials. This would result in a monthly increase to P500 from the current P260 discount ...

GUNNED down in public and in broad daylight, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) condemns the killing of lawyer Maria Saniata Liwliwa Gonzales-Alzate.  Based on initial news reports, two unidentified assailants boarding a motorcycle got close to the lawyer's vehicle and opened fire at least eight times on Thursday, September 14, 2023. She was parked in front of their house along Santiago Street, Zone 2 in Bangued, Abra when the shooting happened. The lawyer was brought to the hospital after the incident but also died later that day.  Gonzales-Alzate was a former president of the Abra chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), a public interest lawyer, and IBP Commissioner of Bar Discipline since 2015.  CHR strongly condemns the killing of another lawy...

SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday encouraged Filipino college graduates to embrace their “unique selling point” as they join the workforce, saying God made them “for a special purpose.” “In navigating this world, remember you’re unique… Everything about you, hinandmade ng Panginoon ‘yan. May ipapagawa sa’yo,” Cayetano told hundreds of college graduates of the Southville International School and Colleges in his speech during their commencement exercises on August 8, 2023. The commencement exercise was also attended by Former Senator Francis Pangilinan and SISC’s Chairman of the Board Dr. Peter P. Laurel. The senator, whose leadership is based on Christian faith and values, urged the graduates to listen to what their “heart and mind" are saying and not to be swayed by negative...